Hearing on a petition challenging the lodging of FIR naming former chief minister Harish Rawat in the investigation by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the sting operation case of him allegedly attempting to buy support of MLAs, the high court has set the case for the next hearing on March 2.

The court also directed the CBI to inform it first before filing a chargesheet after completing the investigation and also directed Rawat to cooperate in the investigation. On Tuesday, senior advocate and Congress leader Kapil Sibal represented Rawat while senior advocate Rakesh Thapliyal and Sandeep Tandon represented the CBI before the single bench of justice Sudhanshu Dhulia. It will be recalled that a sting operation was carried out on Rawat allegedly trying to buy the support of MLAs during 2016.

As president’s rule was imposed in the state after the Congress government lost majority, the CBI had started investigation into the sting operation following the recommendation of the governor.

Subsequently in its FIR the CBI had named the former CM, current cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat, a news channel CEO Umesh Kumar and other unknown persons.

The FIR was lodged under section 120-B of Indian Penal Code and sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for criminal conspiracy, public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act, taking gratification in order by corrupt or illegal means to influence public servant, taking gratification for exercise of personal influence with public servant and abetment of the above mentioned offences.